The TEAM-UP Report: Major Findings and Recommendations

The TEAM-UP task force collected quantitative and qualitative data from over 250 undergraduate physics students and 40 physics departments to examine and assess the reasons for the persistent under-representation of African American (AA) students in physics and astronomy at the bachelor’s level. The task forces embraced social science research methods and perspectives to investigate four key questions:
1. How does physics culture enhance or diminish AA students’ success?
2. What are the key experiences that lead to AA student persistence or failure to persist in undergraduate physics and astronomy programs?
3. What programmatic factors lead to the persistence of AA students in obtaining B.S./B.A. degrees in Physics/Astronomy?
4. What impedes or promotes culture change in the physics and astronomy community necessary to increase the persistence of AA students in Physics and Astronomy?

In this talk we describe the major findings and evidence-based recommendations for AIP Member Societies, physics and astronomy departments, and other stakeholders to increase the number and percentage of African American students obtaining bachelor’s degrees in physics and astronomy.